User interface

Abstract

A device comprising a touch screen ( 2 ) which reacts to a touch by a touching means ( 3, 7 ) or a corresponding input and which is arranged to display one or more user interface elements ( 8 ), and status means ( 5 ) for detecting the active mode of the touching means ( 3, 7 ) giving the input to the touch screen ( 2 ). The device is arranged to adapt one or more user interface elements ( 8 ) displayed on the touch screen ( 2 ) to be suitable for the touching means ( 3, 7 ) whose active mode is detected by the mode status means ( 5 ). The invention also relates to a device, a computer program product and a software product implementing the method.

1 . A device comprising 
 a touch screen which reacts to a touch by a touching means or a corresponding input and which is arranged to display one or more user interface elements, and    status means for detecting the active mode of the touching means giving an input to the touch screen,    wherein the device is arranged to adapt one or more user interface elements displayed on the touch screen to be suitable for the touching means whose active mode is detected by the status means.    
   
   
       2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein it is also arranged to adapt the user interface elements displayed on the touch screen to a form suitable for a finger used as the touching means when no touching tool in the active mode is detected by the status means.  
   
   
       3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein it is also arranged to detect the surface area of the structure of the touching means in the active mode, giving an input to the touch screen, and to use it to generate adapting data.  
   
   
       4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device also comprises a holder for placement of the touching tool when it is not used as the touching means.  
   
   
       5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the status means is arranged in one of the following: 
 in connection with the touch screen,    in the touching tool,    in the holder.    
   
   
       6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the status means is a sensor with a mechanical, optical or electromagnetic principle of operation.  
   
   
       7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is one of the following: a mobile station, a communication device, an electronic notebook, a personal digital assistant.  
   
   
       8 . A user interface comprising 
 a touch screen which reacts to a touch by a touching means or a corresponding input and which is arranged to display one or more user interface elements, and    status means for detecting the active mode of the touching means giving an input to the touch screen,    wherein the user interface is arranged to adapt one or more user interface elements to be displayed on the touch screen to be suitable for the touching means whose active mode is detected by the status means.    
   
   
       9 . The user interface according to  claim 8 , wherein it is also arranged to adapt the user interface elements displayed on the touch screen to a form suitable for a finger used as the touching means, when no touching tool in the active mode is detected by the status means.  
   
   
       10 . The user interface according to  claim 8 , wherein it is also arranged to detect the surface area of the structure of the touching means in the active mode, giving an input to the touch screen, and to use it to generate adapting data.  
   
   
       11 . The user interface according to  claim 8 , wherein it also comprises a holder for the placement of the touching tool when it is not used as the touching means.  
   
   
       12 . The user interface according to  claim 8 , wherein the status means is arranged in one of the following: 
 in connection with the touch screen,    in the touching tool,    in the holder.    
   
   
       13 . The user interface according to  claim 8 , wherein the status means is a sensor with a mechanical, optical or electromagnetic principle of operation.  
   
   
       14 . A system comprising one or more touching tools as well as a user interface which, in turn, comprises 
 a touch screen which reacts to a touch by a touching means or a corresponding input and which is arranged to display one or more user interface elements, and    status means for detecting the active mode of the touching means giving an input to the touch screen,    wherein some part of the system is arranged to adapt one or more user interface elements displayed on the touch screen to be suitable for the touching means whose active mode is detected by the status means.    
   
   
       15 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein it is also arranged to adapt the user interface elements displayed on the touch screen toga form suitable for a finger used as the touching means when no touching tool in the active mode is detected by the status means.  
   
   
       16 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein it is also arranged to detect the surface area of the structure of the touching means in the active mode, giving an input to the touch screen, and to use it to generate adapting data.  
   
   
       17 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the device also comprises a holder for the placement of the touching tool when it is not used as the touching means.  
   
   
       18 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the status means is arranged in one of the following: 
 in connection with the touch screen,    in the touching tool,    in the holder.    
   
   
       19 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the status means is a sensor with a mechanical, optical or electromagnetic principle of operation.  
   
   
       20 . A touch screen module comprising 
 a touch screen which reacts to a touch by a touching means or a corresponding input and which is arranged to display one or more user interface elements, and    status means for detecting the active mode of the touching means giving an input to the touch screen,    wherein some part of the module is arranged to adapt one or more user interface elements displayed on the touch screen to be suitable for the touching means whose active mode is detected by the mode status means.    
   
   
       21 . The touch screen module according to  claim 20 , wherein it is also arranged to adapt the user interface elements displayed on the touch screen to a form suitable for a finger used as the touching means when no touching tool in the active mode is detected by the status means.  
   
   
       22 . The touch screen module according to  claim 20 , wherein it is also arranged to detect the surface area of the structure of the touching means in the active mode, giving an input to the touch screen, and to use it to generate adapting data.  
   
   
       23 . The touch screen module according to  claim 20 , wherein the device also comprises a holder for the placement of the touching tool when it is not used as the touching means.  
   
   
       24 . The touch screen module according to  claim 20 , wherein the status means is arranged in one of the following: 
 in connection with the touch screen,    in the touching tool,    in the holder.    
   
   
       25 . The touch screen module according to  claim 20 , wherein the status means is a sensor with a mechanical, optical or electromagnetic principle of operation.  
   
   
       26 . A method for adapting a user interface to be suitable for two or more different touching means, wherein user interface elements are displayed on the touch screen of a user interface reacting to a touch by the touching means or a corresponding input, the user interface elements being manipulated by the touching means, such as a touching tool, in an active mode to form control commands, wherein the user interface elements displayed on the touch screen are arranged in a form suitable for the touching tool in the active mode.  
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the user interface elements displayed on the touch screen are arranged in a form suitable for a finger used as the touching means when the touching tool is not in the active mode.  
   
   
       28 . The system according to  claim 26 , wherein the surface area of the structure of the touching means in the active mode, giving an input to the touch screen, is detected and used to generate adapting data.  
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the active mode of the touching means giving an input to the touch screen is detected by status means.  
   
   
       30 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the user interface elements displayed on the touch screen have a larger surface area when the touching tool is not in the active mode, and the user interface elements displayed on the touch screen have a smaller surface area when the touching tool is in the active mode.  
   
   
       31 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the user interface also comprises a holder in which the touching tool is placed when it is not used as the touching means.  
   
   
       32 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the mode of the touching tool is detected by a status means which is arranged in one of the following: 
 in connection with the touch screen,    in the touching tool,    in the holder.    
   
   
       33 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the mode of the touching tool is detected by the status means which is a sensor with a mechanical, optical or electromagnetic principle of operation.  
   
   
       34 . A computer program product for controlling the functions of a device, which device comprises 
 a touch screen which reacts to a touch by a touching means or a corresponding input, for displaying user interface elements,    status means for detecting the active mode of the touching means giving an input to the touch screen,    the computer program product further comprising program commands for execution on or processor for forming control settings of the touch screen which are suitable for the touching tool used as the touching means, wherein the computer program product further comprises program commands for    determining if the touching tool is in the active mode and for forming the sensor data describing the status,    arranging, for the touch screen, the user interface elements corresponding to the control settings suitable for the touching tool, when the sensor data indicates that said touching tool is in the active mode.    
   
   
       35 . The computer program product according to  claim 34 , wherein the computer program product also comprises program commands for 
 forming the control settings of the touch screen which are suitable for a finger used as the touching means, and    arranging, for the touch screen, the user interface elements corresponding to the control settings suitable for the finger, when the sensor data indicates that said touching tool is in a mode other than the active mode.    
   
   
       36 . The computer program product according to  claim 34 , wherein the computer program product also comprises program commands for 
 forming user interface elements with a large surface area when the touching tool is in a mode other than the active mode, and    forming user interface elements with a smaller surface area when the touching tool is in the active mode.    
   
   
       37 . The computer program product according to  claim 34 , wherein the device also comprises a holder for the placement of the touching tool when it is not used as the touching means, and the computer program product comprises program commands to determine if the touching-tool is placed in the holder.  
   
   
       38 . A software product for storing a computer program, which product comprises a computer program for controlling the functions of a device, which device comprises 
 a touch screen which reacts to a touch by a touching means or a corresponding input, for displaying user interface elements,    status means for detecting the active mode of the touching means giving an input to the touch screen,    the software product comprising program commands for forming control settings of the touch screen which are suitable for the touching tool used as the touching means, wherein the software product comprises program commands for    determining if the touching tool is in the active mode and for forming the sensor data describing the status,    arranging, for the touch screen, the user interface elements corresponding to the control settings suitable for the touching tool, when the sensor data indicates that said touching tool is in the active mode.    
   
   
       39 . The software product according to  claim 38 , wherein the software product also comprises program commands for 
 forming the control settings of the touch screen which are suitable for a finger used as the touching means, and    arranging, for the touch screen, the user interface elements corresponding to the control settings suitable for the finger, when the sensor data indicates that said touching tool is in a mode other than the active mode.    
   
   
       40 . The software product according to  claim 38 , wherein the software product also comprises program commands for 
 forming user interface elements with a large surface area when the touching tool is in a mode other than the active mode, and    forming user interface elements with a smaller surface area when the touching tool is in the active mode.    
   
   
       41 . The software product according to  claim 38 , wherein the device also comprises a holder for the placement of the touching tool when it is not used as the touching means, and the software product comprises program commands to determine if the touching tool is placed in the holder.